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Is Bengaluru's ecosystem under threat?

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Bengaluru, often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of India," boasts a vibrant culture, a thriving tech industry, and a rich history.

However, amidst its bustling urban landscape lies a silent crisis - the recurring fish kills in its lakes. The "Fishkill in Lakes of Bengaluru 2.0" report by ActionAid Association for 2024 sheds light on this pressing environmental issue, urging stakeholders to take immediate action to preserve the city's fragile aquatic ecosystems.

The document provides an overview of the previous report covering fish kills from 2017 to 2022, outlining its findings and recommendations.

Raghavendra B Pachhapur from ActionAid Association said, “Lakes are essential components of Bengaluru's ecosystem, interconnected with surrounding environments.

Thus, any disruption in these delicate ecosystems can have far-reaching consequences, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the underlying causes of fish kills.”

Factors contributing to the recurrent fish kills, include inadequate stormwater drain preparation, insufficient maintenance of diversion channels, and lax monitoring of water quality.

Sewage inflow emerges as a primary culprit, contaminating the lakes and endangering aquatic life. Pachhapur shared that rajakaluve or storm water drain plays an important role in passing the rainwater to lakes.

In Bengaluru, we notice that large quantities of sludge and solid waste are also passed to the lake resulting in fishkill. To resolve this, Pachhapur suggests, “To mitigate environmental hazards and maintain water quality, a comprehensive strategy must be implemented, including the removal of sludge and solid waste from concrete drain surfaces before monsoon rains, the installation of traps to capture plastic waste at various points upstream of stormwater drains to prevent it from reaching the lake, and the swift deployment of a responsive action plan upon receiving complaints regarding blockages around lake inlets, ensuring the uninterrupted flow of water and the preservation of the lake ecosystem.”

Analyzing water quality reports from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), the report underscores the severity of the situation.

Alarming levels of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and faecal coliform (FC) exceed permissible limits, signalling widespread pollution.

Despite regulatory standards, most lakes exhibit poor water quality, posing imminent threats to biodiversity. In response to these findings, the report offers a roadmap for remedial action.

It calls upon key stakeholders, including Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bangalore Water Supply & Sewage Board (BWSSB), and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), to collaborate effectively.

Pachhapur urges the KSPCB to transition beyond merely monitoring lake waters and instead take proactive steps to combat pollution and foster healthy lake ecosystems.

He suggested Recommendations for the pollution control board including disclosing all 24 parameters of tested lake water quality reports across Karnataka, extending monitoring efforts to include newly rejuvenated lakes in Bengaluru, implementing a colour-coding system on the board's website for easy comprehension by the public regarding lake status, facilitating communication with the BBMP Lakes department regarding water quality analysis findings, issuing notices to relevant departments in case of increased nutrient content in water bodies, and so on.

He opines that these measures aim to enhance transparency, collaboration, and efficiency in pollution control efforts, ultimately safeguarding the health and sustainability of akes across the region.